Around the Nation: Johnson, Melvin picked as managers of the year

NEW YORK — Davey Johnson of the Washington Nationals and Bob Melvin of the Oakland Athletics have been chosen as managers of the year.

Johnson easily won the NL honor on Tuesday after the Nationals bolted to the best record in baseball. Melvin was picked narrowly for the AL award over Baltimore’s Buck Showalter in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Johnson, who turns 70 in January, was honored for the second time. He was tabbed as the AL’s top manager in 1997, hours after he resigned from the Orioles in a feud with owner Peter Angelos.

Melvin also became a two-time winner, having been chosen in 2007 with Arizona.

AP source: Marlins trade three stars to Blue Jays

MIAMI — The Miami Marlins’ spending spree a year ago didn’t work, so now they’re trying another payroll purge.

Rebranded in a new ballpark at the start of 2012, the Marlins were up to their old ways Tuesday, swapping stars for prospects. Miami traded shortstop Jose Reyes, left-hander Mark Buehrle and right-hander Josh Johnson to the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a blockbuster deal, a person familiar with the agreement said.

The person confirmed the trade to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams weren’t officially commenting. The person said the trade sent several of the Blue Jays’ top prospects to Miami.

Affeldt, Giants close in on 3-year deal

SAN FRANCISCO — A person familiar with the negotiations says left-hander Jeremy Affeldt and the San Francsico Giants are closing in on a three-year contract.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because no deal had been announced.

The 33-year-old Affeldt went 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 67 appearances spanning 631/3 innings this season for the World Series champions.

When the season ended, Affeldt said he wanted to stay with San Francisco but needed a multiyear deal to give some security for his family — he has a wife and three young sons. Affeldt also was a key member of the bullpen during the club’s 2010 run to the franchise’s first championship since 1954.

General manager Brian Sabean called re-signing Affeldt one of his top offseason priorities.

FOOTBALL

Roethlisberger has sprained shoulder

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a sprained right shoulder and his status for Sunday’s showdown with AFC North rival Baltimore is uncertain.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Roethlisberger is “questionable” and is waiting for more details on the quarterback’s condition. Roethlisberger left Monday night’s 16-13 overtime win over Kansas City in the third quarter after getting slammed to the ground by Chiefs linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.

Veteran backup Byron Leftwich filled in and completed 7-of-14 passes for 73 yards. Leftwich’s last start came in 2009 while playing for the Atlanta Falcons.

Tomlin said safety Troy Polamalu remains doubtful with a right calf injury. Polamalu hasn’t played since a win over Philadelphia on Oct. 7.

Dayton objects to Vikings stadium fee ideas

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he will fight any effort by the Vikings to charge fans extra fees to buy season tickets in the new publicly subsidized football stadium.

In a sharply worded letter Tuesday, Dayton told team owner Zygi Wilf that he is distressed by reports the team may charge seat license fees to help generate money for the stadium. Dayton says he will urge a public authority to block any such move.

The team is due to pay slightly more than half of the $975 million price tag. Dayton told Wilf that the contribution is the responsibility of team owners, not fans.

Former Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens arrested

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Police in Kirkland, Wash., say former Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens appeared in court Tuesday after being arrested hours earlier on suspicion of domestic violence assault.

Seattlepi.com says a Kirkland Municipal Court judge released Stevens saying there was no evidence connecting Stevens to any assault. The website reported that U.S. women’s national soccer team goalkeeper Hope Solo was in court Tuesday.

Lt. Mike Murray says officers responded to a disturbance at a home in a Seattle suburb around 3:45 a.m. Monday. He says officers didn’t get cooperation from the people at the home, but determined there was probable cause to arrest Stevens on fourth-degree assault.

Murray says Stevens and his victim were dating. He declined to release the victim’s name but said she received a laceration to the elbow but the injury was minor. He says one other person had to be taken to the hospital for treatment of a hip injury.

Michigan DE Clark gets probation for laptop theft

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan defensive end Frank Clark has received probation for stealing a laptop computer from another student’s dorm room.

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree home invasion on Sept. 11.

Washtenaw County District Judge Donald Shelton issued the sentence Tuesday. Clark can erase the conviction by completing probation under a first-time offenders program.

Clark also most pay $1,741 in fines and court costs.

After the June theft, Michigan coach Brady Hoke suspended Clark for a week of preseason practice and the opener against Alabama. Since then, Clark has made 11 tackles, three of them for a loss. He’s also broken up three passes.

Texas’ Royal remembered as humble champion

AUSTIN, Texas — Former Texas coach Darrell Royal was remembered Tuesday as a humble champion who built a powerhouse football program and a Longhorn brand known around the world.

About 1,200 people attended a memorial service for the coach who led Texas to national championships in 1963 and 1969 and a share of a third in 1970. Royal also revolutionized college football when he introduced the wishbone offense in 1968.

Royal died in Austin on Nov. 7 at the age of 88. He was buried at the Texas State Cemetery in a private service on Monday.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR adds Mid-Ohio to Nationwide Series in 2013

NASCAR is adding Mid-Ohio to the Nationwide Series next season as the third road course on the 2013 schedule.

The Aug. 17 race will mark NASCAR’s return to Ohio, home state of series sponsor Nationwide Insurance. NASCAR last raced in Ohio in 2008 with the Truck Series.

Mid-Ohio joins a June stop at Road America in Wisconsin and an August race at Watkins Glen, N.Y., as the road course events. It replaces Montreal on the 33-race schedule.

The season opens at Daytona on Feb. 23, closes at Homestead on Nov. 16 and returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. There are six stand-alone races — two at Iowa, and one each at Chicagoland, Kentucky, Road America and Mid-Ohio.